The sexual harassment non-scandal is not what brought down Herman Cain’s campaign. Cain’s campaign died in a quiet, unassuming way. It was not even friendly fire that brought Cain down.
What was it that has brought about the end of the Cain campaign?
It was the Cain-Gingrich debate.
That was certainly not the intention. By all accounts, Cain and Gingrich are friends. They certainly were friendly at the debate.
Cain’s demise was self-inflicted.
In what should have been a debate between equals, Cain constantly deferred to Gingrich. The game ending moment came for Cain on a simple point. Steve King asked a question about defined benefits. Cain stammered, started to say, “A defined…” then he said the words that would kill his campaign. “You go first Newt.”
Either Cain did not know what it was or could not explain it in front of a national audience.
His demur left the impression that Gingrich was far smarter than Cain and could answer the questions Cain could not.
This event, a friendly event as both candidates noted, lacked a gotcha question, revealed Cain’s fundamental weakness. Cain is very engaging and he is an incredible orator. He is a terrible debater.
Unfortunately in this modern era, that is a skill that every candidate must have. Gingrich wanted a friendly debate and he got one. But he also showed something he has demonstrated in every debate. Gingrich is an incredible debater. This is his greatest talent. Gingrich has been described as the smartest man on the stage at the debates he has participated in and that has been obvious.
Herman Cain’s limitations have become obvious in a debate. He is not comfortable in that format. Unfortunately for Cain, if he were to be the nominee, he would be expected to do at least three debates with Obama. With history as a guide, not only would Cain not have the friendly environment he had last night, the stage would be stacked with pro-Obama media types.
Anytime a sitting President runs for reelection, the vote is a referendum on the President. This should be an easy vote. If Obama did not have the mainstream media in his corner, he could expect to retire in fourteen months.
This election will be closer than any of us want to admit. In some ways, this could be a replay of 1980. Americans knew they did not like Jimmy Carter but were not sure about Ronald Reagan.
After three debates and the famous line, “Are you better now than you were four years ago,” Reagan pulled ahead and we had a great eight years.
If Herman Cain has a series of bad debates, we could see four more years of Barack Obama. Obama is a far better debater than Cain is. Gingrich will destroy Obama in a debate.
Unfortunately for Herman Cain, in a debate against Barack Obama, if he does not get the question, he cannot simply turn around and say, “you first Barry.”
Cain is a great guy with a bad plan. Unfortunately he is a bad debater and Gingrich is an all-pro. As much as I like Cain, he is not quite ready for the starting line up just yet.
Our primary goal has got to be the defeat of Barack Obama. That means we need our first string out there on their A-game. Cain showed us in the debate last night that he is not the first string.
Gingrich is.
Tags: 2012, barack, cain, campaign, debate, gingrich, herman, newt, obama
Permalink Reply by Debrajoe Smith-Beatty on Permalink Reply by Sam Duncan on Permalink Reply by Mary Vicari on 
Permalink Reply by Robert TwinEagle on Samuel, I didnot see the debate that was refered to above but from what I just read and even tho I really like Herman Cain and wish he could be President but I have to agree with what was said Cain is not the man who could win a debate with Obama but Newt could .....but I'm hoping that if Newt does win the nomination that he would choose Herman Cain as his running mate . Because I believe in Herman Cain and like many of his ideas espically his 999 tax plan......
Permalink Reply by Joyce Foster-Konya on He's still THE MAN in my book. If a man gets beaten down from his own party and from the corrupt media....who wouldn't start to stumble. We have to back him with all we have.
Don't give up on him. He isn't a politian like the others. He's like us "The People". If we vote in one of the established politians...we will get more of the same. We need a businessman with a personality like Cain's. I think he's getting a bumb wrap and we are falling into the wicked Media's dark hole.
Keep a positive outlook....we are going negative and that isn't a winning word. GO CAIN! IGNORE THE BAD PRESS AND REMEMBER WHERE THAT INFORMATION IS COMING FROM. You are a fighter....fight!
Permalink Reply by Noel Smith on Thank you Joyce for what I have been trying to say as well!! NO MORE CAREER POLITICIANS!!! The definition of insanity is: continuing to the the same thing over and over and expecting a different result!!! Stop the insanity, someone out there get Herman a lesson in debating and a little more foreign policy knowledge and lets keep moving in the right direction. He will make a change in this whole political world if we get him elected. If not through his own efforts then through the message that we have had enough and will vote the idiots out.
Thanks again Joyce for your insight.
Permalink Reply by Gene Swank on Permalink Reply by Walter Allen Howard on Permalink Reply by william suesser on Is it true that in this presidenial election ,in order to win the winner needs to win one of the following california,new york or texas and if that is true we have to pander to illegals or latinos in texas to win regardless of conservative fundamentals?
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Permalink Reply by Jorge Aviles on © 2013 Created by Judson Phillips.
